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Hearing the name of mathematics often brings back to people’s mind those scary memories of school days – an endless cyclone of algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus… But have you ever thought how useful is the mathematics for which we have wasted thousands of hours in our real life? Modern research and experts believe that not only are we reading mathematics wrong, but our way of evaluating it is also completely wrong. The shocking fact is that the current curriculum of mathematics in many parts of the world, including America, was determined by the ‘Committee of Ten’ of 1893. In that era, rote math was necessary for architects, astronomers and civil engineers. But today, when we have supercomputers like smartphones in our hands, we are still teaching children to solve complex equations by hand. Ted Dinertsmith, author of ‘Aftermath: The Life-Changing Math That Schools Won’t Teach You’, says, today’s world is run by data, algorithms, statistics and AI. But our education policy is still running behind 19th century rote mathematics and multiple choice test scores. Experts believe that if computers can do any work better and faster, then keeping children engaged in the same work cannot be a measure of quality. Risk due to ignorance of mathematics: According to OECD Education Director Andreas Schleicher, lack of practical understanding of mathematics is not only an academic shortcoming but also a big risk to life and health. Due to lack of understanding of data, people take wrong life-death decisions due to medical test reports and misinterpretation of data by doctors. At the same time, 93% of people suffering from ‘math anxiety’ are falling into financial trap; They are ruining their investment and future by not understanding the mathematics of inflation and interest. This ignorance also entangles the public in the illusion of data of policy makers. In many countries, official unemployment figures hide the reality, with the real rate being higher. But distance from mathematics cannot explain this mistake. Even in processes like the census, data errors lead to misallocation of resources. Until we understand the truth hidden in the figures, we will continue to be misled. Experts say, ‘Correct knowledge of mathematics is not only important for personal success, but it also strengthens democracy. Only when citizens start understanding data and figures will they be able to ask the right questions. The time has come that we should get out of rote mathematics and adopt mathematics which can shape our tomorrow. 80% of the time is being spent on calculations, let AI-computers do it. American educationist Conrad Wolfram argues that we should give importance to ‘data analytics’ and ‘financial literacy’. Current education spends 80% of the time on ‘calculation’, whereas computers and AI can do this work much better. Students should be freed from the burden of calculations and focus on problem solving. Students learn statistical reasoning and financial decisions that impact life. If students cannot understand taxes, investments, or interest rates after leaving school, their mathematics education is incomplete. Proficiency in these practical data should be the real aim of education.
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